Now entering his 10th season on the University of North Dakota's coaching staff, Dane Jackson was elevated to associate head coach in July 2015 after having spent the previous nine seasons as an assistant coach for his alma mater.

Jackson coaches the team’s forwards and the penalty killing units, and also works directly with UND’s forwards and defensemen on skill development during open-ice sessions throughout the week.

During his time at UND, Jackson’s penalty-killing units have annually ranked among the best in the conference and in the nation. Most recently in 2014-15, Jackson's penalty-killing unit led the NCHC at 84 percent and paced the entire nation with 12 short-handed goals.

In 2013-14, his penalty killers ranked third in the NCHC in efficiency. One year earlier, they were at their best down the stretch, clicking at a league-leading 87.1 percent from Jan. 19 through the end of the season. That figure also ranked eighth nationally during that run.

In 2011-12, UND ranked second in the WCHA in penalty killing during conference play at 82.2 percent.

Jackson’s penalty killers led the WCHA in 2010-11 with an 86.1 percent efficiency, the second straight season in which UND led the league. In 2009-10, Jackson’s penalty killing unit clicked at a WCHA-leading 87.0 percent, narrowly missing out on the school record of 87.2 percent.

UND also ranked fifth nationally in penalty killing in 2010-11. Additionally, Jackson’s penalty killers led the WCHA in 2010-11 with 11 short-handed goals after having ranked second in the league in each of the previous two seasons.

Jackson joined UND in 2006 after serving as head coach and player personnel director for the Adirondack Frostbite of the United Hockey League. Adirondack went 25-12-3 under Jackson and finished in the league’s top five in both the penalty kill and power play.

Prior to coaching at Adirondack, Jackson spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the American Hockey League’s Manchester Monarchs. The Monarchs posted 102- and 109-point seasons during Jackson’s two seasons there.

A native of Castlegar, British Columbia, Jackson played for North Dakota from 1988-92 and registered 103 points (59 goals, 44 assists) in 150 career games, while serving as an alternate captain as a senior. He was drafted in the third round (44th overall) by Vancouver in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.

After finishing his collegiate playing career, Jackson went on to enjoy an 11-year professional playing career that included stints in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders.

Jackson was a captain five times during his professional playing career and won community service awards in two separate cities (Syracuse, N.Y. and Hamilton, Ontario). He was also honored with the Rochester Americans’ (AHL) Leadership and Dedication Award in 2000-01.

Jackson graduated from UND in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was a WCHA All-Academic selection in 1989-90 and in 1988-89 was honored with UND’s Tom Hoghaug Memorial Scholarship, which is given annually to a freshman hockey player who has demonstrated initiative, character and a sense of responsibility.

Jackson and his wife, Carrie, have three children: son Dillon (11) and twins, son Dallas and daughter Lila (7 1/2).